Critique and Write explores where to get writing ideas, structuring of fiction as well as non-fiction and the critiquing process is examined.

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Sunday, September 9, 2007

They Said I Couldn't Write

"They say I can't write a novel." Someone explained to me. "Keep gettin' rejection slips."In our society, people want to see it happen now, not tomorrow. Likewise, success is wanted this second. It takes time to get from writing to finished novel. It is rare for anyone to create a story, and the piece is publication ready.The process of finding the right publisher is a challenge. Many will not accept manuscripts unless from an agent.The question, you must address is, should I get an agent?I suggest doing research on it before making a decision. As with anything else, there are good ones, and bad agents.Rejection slips takes a spot on every writer's desk, sooner or later. The key is to continue to write. Figure out why. Did you send your work to the wrong publisher? Grammatical errors? You tie-up all the loose ends in the novel? Does the story flow smoothly? Make sure you have a beginning, middle, and a satisfying ending.I mean do not cheat the reader. It must be reasonable, and in accordance with your creation.I sent work out, many times, and received rejection slips.Once, I snail-mailed a short story to a publication. They forwarded me materials for stuffing envelopes. Yes, I felt bad, but it gave me the incentive to keep trying. It signaled do better, learn more.I threw the items in the wastebasket, their rightful place.Deep inside, I had what it took to flourish through non-fiction, fiction, and poems. The stumble served to strengthen my resolve.After all, I wrote, entertained using all three. However, my work had to meet industry standards. The only way for that to happen was practice.The area I live tend to be noisy. So, I shut-out that buzz, concentrated on my work. It took time. More importantly, I dared to believe.Yes, you must take yourself seriously. All kinds of people will come along to remind you of the rejection slips."Maybe, you should just give-up writing." Someone will say. "Get a real job."It is nothing wrong with getting a job. Find a time to write, day or night. Continue to build on your writings. Take a writing course. Read the work of authors you like, or write in same genre as you.Take note of how the plot unfolds, use of sentence structure, dialogue, and the technique used to tell a tale. Put it under a microscope. How would you spell-out the plot? Use a different main character? Have more than one plot? How different could your characters be from the original?Jot down notes. When finished analyzing, start writing your own novel. Take it step by step. The very first paragraph must grab the reader's attention.Know your characters. How? Make a profile of each. How does the main character look? What quirk(s)? Put in as much information as you want. You determine when or how it is sectioned to the story-line.Dialogue mimics speech."Whatcha doin'?""Save it. Talk to the hand."Some people drop letters in words like doing. Instead of saying what are you, whatcha takes the place of three words.Simply, use different vocal patterns for characters. It gives a realistic flavor to the novel.Toss in suspense, obstacles. Allow a story person to escape an issue, and then have him/her bombarded with another problem. It keeps happening, stops when he/she figures out a solution. Remember, the struggle goes on three or more times.Look at how I handled characters, dialogue, etc. Read my novel Grave Street House. The website link is: http://www.thedigitalword.comI would like to hear from you. Contact me at writer.feedback@gmail.comArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcella_Glenn

About Me

Marcella Glenn is a freelance writer who has written news reports,
worked in an office, reviewed movies, published a newsletter and had her
novel, "Grave Street House," published. She, too, is a Writing
Consultant as well as a Personal Coach.

She
has tried to go down some of life's other paths. A few paths were a
mail-order business, the publishing of a pen-pal newsletter and selling
plastic-ware. Only, she was back writing before realizing what she was
doing.

She'd critique titles,
paragraphs, news reports, that no one submitted to her. She'd stop
herself, eventually. Marcella Glenn seemed to be enjoying the act of
writing. This is how she knew writing was more than a hobby.

Let
it be a lesson in your life too. Is writing calling your name? Or,
acting? Teaching? Are you interested in engineering? Have the courage to
go for your dreams. Simply, believe in yourself.